Minn-Kota Mennonite Central Committee Relief Sale, Inc.
General Board Minutes
April 18, 2009, 1:00 p.m.;  Mercy Church, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 

 Welcome/Opening: Jon Harder compared fish (thousands moving as one although they have no leader and only act on what they see nearby) and bees (each with a specific, important job) to relief sale workers.  We must continually eliminate obsolete ideas and add current ideas.  He read from I Corinthians about the variety of spiritual gifts, and many members being one.

   Secretary's report:  We approved the November 10, 2008 minutes read by Loretta Krahn.

 Treasurer's report:  Anita Neufeld reported we have $12,500 of our $28,000 budget.  The Salem Zion/Zion men's choir will raise more funds tonight.

 Introductions:  Each one present introduced him/herself.

   Approval of recent appointment:  Edie Tschetter moved and Reed Schrag seconded a motion to approve Bobbi Waltner for a three-year term on the Minn-Kota Executive Board.  The motion carried.

   Items to pick up:  Elizabeth Janzen  brought MCC materials  and encouraged us to contact her at the MCC office in Freeman, South Dakota with questions and concerns.  Rodney Unruh of the Advertising Committee brought newly designed brochures. To help the committee decide where to advertise, individuals may sign up for a specific newspaper and donate $35 to the $9000 advertising budget. Chris Eisenbeis reported that Penny Power has raised half a million dollars for MCC.  Last year our sale's total was $5099.75, with 40% from one church.  Our goal this year is $6000 and our focus is water.  He brought posters, story books, fun pages, calendars, etc. Light bulb containers from last year could be used again.  Angie VanDiepen brought Candy Shoppe recipes.  She needs contact information for the maker of each candy batch.  There are five different cookie recipes to take.  All forty sold last year. Peter Preheim asked us to distribute donation forms to churches.  We will use up old forms with different addresses and then print new ones with a more permanent address. Items sell for a significantly higher price if they are listed in the auction booklet, so make sure donation forms are in by June 20. Lynette Preheim brought a sweater and pie carrier found at last year's sale.  Sticky-backed labels are available.  Carol Graber brought pie tins. 

 Ideas and questions:  Melvin Koehn asked which kinds of cheese to order from Dimock.  Peter Preheim said the arena is recycling more, and allows no styrofoam in the trash.  Any styrofoam we bring in we must bring back out.  We will auction our styrofoam supplies.  Each booth should break down cardboard boxes for recycling.  Most plastic is recyclable.  Edie Tschetter asked us to promote theme baskets in our churches: bring any collection of things in a container the day of the sale for the silent auction. She also said posters are important.  The advertising committee will decide whether or not to make a poster. The new brochures (designed by a university student from Vermillion) are colorful and attractive.  The auction starting time (10:00 a.m. Saturday) is not listed.  Shelby Boese said the church booth receives many questions about Mennonites and Anabaptists, and more churches could help staff it.

 Sale future:   Jon Harder said the sale's purpose is to raise money for MCC,  promote MCC's programs and projects, and attract buyers (especially buyers from Sioux Falls).  To make this happen, we need an amazing amount and variety of donated items, enthusiastic volunteers, and buyers.  He asked us to discuss in table groups what we are doing right or wrong.  The groups suggested these improvements:

 Get junior high school-aged volunteers.
Friday evening program: Dispense with it.  It stalls sale activities. Or, make it bigger. Bring in a group that can fill the arena.  (This year's program is The Master's Voice, well-known in Sioux Falls.
Have music playing once in a while throughout the sale.  People could choose when to listen.
Tell five-minute MCC stories every hour during the weekend.
The sale needs a more festive atmosphere.
Half of our advertising should be about MCC's work.
Attend other organization's fundraisers and get ideas from them.
Jon Harder said that anyone who wants to do something for the sale should bring it to the board.  If no one is interested in doing certain things, we will probably drop them.

 Volunteers needed:  Most booths have a chairperson.  We need a new treasurer next year.  This person should be chosen in time to learn the job during this year's sale.  We still need someone for the Kiddie Korner and the school kit  booths. We need new board members each year, and people with computer skills.  Reed Schrag said we should advertise The Master's Voice concert in northwest Iowa and asked for a volunteer to put up posters there. Contact Rodney Unruh, Bobbi Waltner, or Steve Hopkins if you are willing. 

 Jon Harder showed us the floor plan.

Maryann Harder, recording secretary

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